Grays Ath 2 v 0 Tilbury

A goal in each half was enough for Grays to maintain their recent domination over local rivals, and soon to be landlords, Tilbury. The Blues will though wonder how they didn’t have the game sewn up by half time, giving the visitors hope of snatching something for far too long. The game also saw the debut of recent loan signing from Watford, Damani Hunter. He added real pace and power to the midfield and looks to be an asset for the club during his stay.
And indeed it was Hunter who made the first chance of the game in just the second minute, when he picked up a Mitch Hahn long throw but couldn’t find a clear opening. Grays were making all the early moves and must have wondered how they failed to score. Macauley Joynes almost netted directly from a corner and Hahn fired a 40-yard free kick just over the bar. And the chances kept coming. Hunter went on a long run but shot straight at the visitors’ keeper, Christian North; Ronnie Winn rocketed a shot wide of the post; and Marlon Agyakwa had another effort blocked by the Tilbury defence.
Eventually, the pressure had to tell and when the goal came after 26 minutes, it was simplicity itself. Sam Bantick swung in a corner from the left and Roman Campbell rose highest, unmarked, to head home from close range for a 1-0 lead.
Tilbury’s best chance of the half came soon after the goal, from one of their rare forays down the pitch. The resulting corner caused alarm in the Grays penalty area but the ball was cleared off the line by Joynes and away to safety.
For his debut half in Blue, Damani Hunter was linking up well with his colleagues. A nice one-two with Courtney Homans won Grays a corner and another fine passing move the length of the pitch ended when Hunter’s ball just failed to find Bantick, who was lurking for what would have been a simple finish.

Half time Grays Ath 1 v 0 Tilbury

To the visitors’ credit, they came out in the second half looking to be much more positive. Alex Clark, who had a spell at Grays earlier in the season, worked both wings well and Chris Millar, gave a commanding performance in midfield. But unfortunately for the Dockers, their efforts found little up front to convert the chances. Too often crosses were overhit or went through the Grays penalty area without any real danger for Danny Sambridge, who had a quiet time in the Blues goal. The only real scare came when Clark broke through the Grays defence but slipped and dragged his shot wide.
But Grays were still creating chances of their own. Roman Campbell, who worked tirelessly up front all afternoon, headed wide from a Mitch Hahn cross and Lewis Clark did the same from a Hahn free kick. Clark, who seems to make a delightful cameo appearance each game in an unexpected position on the field, then made a run with the ball through the inside left channel (for those of us old enough to remember where that is !) but his shot was well defended.
Blues were reminded that the game was not yet same, when the impressive Millar put a 20-yard free onto the roof of the net. But the points were secured with a quarter of an hour to go, when Callum Watts, off the bench, picked up a through ball from Campbell, and although forced wide, unleashed a shot from a narrow angle that beat North in the Tilbury goal. At 2-0, the game was up.
There was though time for Blues fans to see a second exciting, if short, debut from Jesse Olukolu, a recent recruit from Brightlingsea. He made a couple of darting runs into the box with the ball at his feet. Manager Lewis Dark now has an array of talent at his disposal to help Blues maintain their push for a playoff place. Sadly for Tilbury, the defeat leaves them looking anxiously over their shoulder at the teams below and, of course, we wish them well in their fight to remain at this level.
Next up for Grays is the long trip to Wroxham and a day out in the Norfolk Broads. Come On You Blues !

Final score: Grays Ath 2 v 0 Tilbury
Grays Ath: Sambridge, Homans, Joynes, R.Winn, L.Clark, Leahy, Hunter (Olukolu, 81), Bantick (Watts, 68), Campbell, Hahn, Agyakwa (Gordon, 55)
Subs not used: G.Winn, Toussaint